| Etchmiadzin Cathedral Էջմիածնի եկեղեցի |
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The Etchmiadzin Cathedral, May 2008 |
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Ejmiatsin,  Armenia |
| Geographic coordinates | 40°09′42″N 44°17′28″E / 40.161769°N 44.291164°ECoordinates: 40°09′42″N 44°17′28″E / 40.161769°N 44.291164°E |
| Affiliation | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural style | Armenian |
| Groundbreaking | 301 |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name: Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots | |
| Type: | Cultural |
| Criteria: | ii, iii |
| Designated: | 2000 (24th session) |
| Reference #: | 1011 |
| Region: | Europe and North America |
  Shown within Armenia
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Etchmiadzin Cathedral (Armenian: Էջմիածնի եկեղեցի Ejmiatsni yekeghets'i; originally known as the Holy Mother of God church, Armenian: Սուրբ Աստուածածին Եկեղեցի Surb Astvatsatsin Yekeghetsi) is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia.
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History
The Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the oldest church in the world.[citation needed] It was originally built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator as a vaulted basilica in 301-303, when Armenia was the only country in the world the state religion of which was Christianity.
According to the 5th-century Armenian annals, St. Gregory had a vision of Christ descending from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer to show where the cathedral should be built. Hence, the patriarch gave the church and the city the new name of Echmiadzin, which may be translated as "the place where the Only Begotten descended".
In 480, Vahan Mamikonian, the Roman governor of Armenia, ordered the dilapidated basilica to be replaced with a new cruciform church.
In 618, the wooden dome was replaced with a stone one, resting on four massive pillars linked to exterior walls by arcades. This was the church much as it is today.
Murals in the interior and extravagant rotundas surmounting the apses appeared in the early 18th century. A three-tier belfry was constructed half a century earlier.
The cathedral formerly boasted the largest collection of Armenian medieval manuscripts, but these were lately handed over to the Matenadaran.
Immediately west of the cathedral is the Gate of St. Tiridates, leading to the imposing patriarchal palace. To the northeast, with buildings both within and outside the enclosure, is the Spiritual Academy. Several Khachkars are north of the cathedral.
The Etchmiadzin Cathedral is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Gallery
 View from entrance |
 Entrance and tympanum |
 Interior view |
 Interior |
 Altar |
 Frescoes in interior of dome and drum |
 Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House within the Cathedral complex |
 The Monastic Residence "Vanatoon" |
See also
References
- Etchmiadzin Cathedral at GEOnet Names Server
- World Gazeteer: Armenia – World-Gazetteer.com
- Report of the results of the 2001 Armenian Census, National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Etchmiadzin Cathedral |
- St Etchmiadzin at Armenica.org
- Official Website of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
- UNESCO World Heritage Site profile
- Surp Echmiadzin and other Churches in Vagharshapat
- "Etschmiadzin". Catholic Encyclopedia. 22.02.2007. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05571a.htm.
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